Cigarettes to be banned to create outdoor 'smoke free zones'

SMOKING is set to be banned in city parks and playgrounds and outside Hanley’s new bus station. Stoke-on-Trent City Council is looking at creating the outdoor ‘smoke free zones’ to try to encourage the city’s 55,000 smokers to give up fags.

The Smithfield development – which includes the council’s controversial HQ – is also being considered for the smoking ban. It has been illegal to smoke in enclosed public places – including pubs – in England since 2007. But London Mayor Boris Johnson is looking to ban smoking in the capital’s parks and other local authorities are considering the idea.

The plan has divided residents. Bus passenger Alf Beswick, aged 61, smoker of Kent Nanotek Infina http://www.buycigarettes.eu/kent/nanotek-infina, said: “What a ridiculous idea. The smoke will just blow away in the open air anyway.” But campaigners believe an outdoor smoking ban will help more people to kick their habit. They are backing Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s idea to create a number of ‘smoke-free zones’.

Council leaders are looking at introducing the ban in parks and playgrounds, outside Hanley bus station and at the city centre Smithfield development. It comes as around 55,000 adults smoke in the Potteries – which is 28 per cent of the population and well above the England average. Anti-smoking charity Ash today welcomed the potential ban.

Information manager Amanda Sandford said: “If the council proposed to ban smoking in children’s playgrounds then I can’t see why anyone would be against that, apart from maybe tobacco companies. Even smokers don’t want their own children to take up smoking. We would also support creating smoke-free zones outside bus stations and council buildings. “While the health benefits would be limited, as it is outdoors, it can make a place seem less inviting if there are people stood outside smoking. It will also help to reduce littering.

“Smoke-free zones will help to de-normalise smoking. But it is important that the council consults people first. If it has public support and people are aware of it, it could be that the ban becomes self-policing.” The idea of smoke-free zones is being explored by the city’s Tobacco Control Alliance (TCA), which is chaired by senior councillor Adrian Knapper.